As we face a worldwide pandemic, environmental disasters, social unrest, and economic uncertainty, each individual's mental as well as physical health is critical to workplace productivity. Employee physical and mental health are now recognized as significant concerns for companies around the world. Employee well-being is no longer a benefit in human resource management, but rather a strategic requirement. Workers' well-being and health are critical components of building a positive workplace culture, and human resources (HR) is responsible for prioritizing these areas. This chapter dives into identifying the role that firms must play in guaranteeing their staff's physical and mental health, examining the issues they confront, and providing insights into successful human resource management practices. More specifically, in this chapter, the authors will look at HR's role in worker's well-being and mental health, the advantages of putting staff wellness first, and the critical tactics HR can use to build a workforce that is productive and healthy.
Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management for Complex Work Environments
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Employee psychological wellness has become an increasingly important part of job satisfaction, and Human Resources (HR) plays a critical role in creating an encouraging mentally and physically healthy atmosphere at work (Ragazou, et al., 2023; Papademetriou, et al., 2023; Pfeffer, 2018). As the understanding and prevalence of mental health issues grows, human resources departments are taking proactive initiatives to promote and prioritize employees' psychological well-being.
Mental health difficulties have an impact on worker happiness and productivity. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy over $1 trillion in lost productivity every year (Nobel, 2016). As it can seen in the following figure, three out of every twenty employees have bad mental health, and unfortunately, many are scared to discuss it with their bosses. This has resulted in 12 billion working days lost, globally each year, due to anxiety and depression, as well as costing companies a staggering $1 trillion in productivity losses. Surprisingly, notwithstanding these figures, more than half of workers say their companies are not doing sufficient to assist their mental health, and 70% of executives believe there are structural impediments to providing such help (McCartney, 2023). Understanding and dealing with these difficulties in employment is essential. HR departments play an important role in creating policies and initiatives that promote psychological wellness in the workplace (Biron, et al. 2015). This includes building a friendly and stigma-free atmosphere, as well as giving resources and help to workers who experiencing problems with their mental health.
Figure 1.Source: McCartney, 2023 HR departments can foster a positive atmosphere at work by arranging awareness campaigns, workshops, and instructional sessions. Such programs can effectively educate staff as well as leadership, about the critical role of psychological wellness in working environments. HR may build empathy and compassion, resulting in a culture in which employees feel sufficiently supported during difficult times. This shift in thinking can significantly reduce anxiety and stress, allowing people to concentrate on their psychological well-being and health (Danna and Griffin, 1999).
Aside from boosting psychological awareness, HR is also responsible for developing practical support networks for workers who are experiencing mental health concerns. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer confidential counseling and support to employees who experience mental health difficulties (McLellan et al., 2018). In addition, human resources can work with medical professionals to incorporate mental health therapies into the organization's health benefits package. HR may positively impact employees' mental health and well-being by providing the opportunity for therapy, counseling, and psychiatric treatments (Goetzel et al., 2017). In the next sections the authors presented the meaning of mental health and well-being, and the importance of mental health and well-Being at the workplace.